New flat radiators?

ScottMP

Old cast iron radaitors are beautiful works of art and they certainly heat nicely. On the other hand they take up alot of room and have a very high water content that take alot of energy to heat.

If the existing radiators are not in great shape or of a decorative design I see no reason not to consider panel radiators. They will be slimmer and heat up quicker. You can also split the room into two smaller units to take up less room or even the heat.

Every house is different and every home owner has different taste. If you like them and it works for you they certainly are a good option.

Scott

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Robyne

New flat panel radiators

We recently bought a 200 year old house that has hot water heat. The boiler is about 35 years old and we are thinking of replacing it. We also need to move a couple of radiators. I've been told by a couple of contractors that when we get a new boiler that we should replace all the radiators (and we were thinking about the cool looking flat panel ones). Do it seem reasonable to replace them all or can I mix the system?

Mike T., Swampeast MO

Are these free-standing cast iron radiators?

R. Kalia_6

It seems like a crime to buy an old house and rip out its distinctive features. Why not buy in a brand-new subdivision instead? Buying a new boiler is fine; it isn't visible. But new boilers don't require new radiators, who told you this nonsense?

RoosterBoy

i agree keep the old rads and get a new boiler

Robyne

new or old radiators

they are all free standing cast iron and I do love them but they are also all painted (and I am worried about the lead issue as I have small children). We must remove two of them because they are blocking fireplaces we wish to open up. Every contractor I've met with wants us to rip everything out and put in forced air heat (yuk!) or rip out all the old cast iron ones when we put in a new boiler (the reason seems to be that all the "crud" in the old radiators may contaminate the system). So does that mean anyone know someone great in the baltimore area?

JOHN K

Do not give those radiators away they are worth some money. Consider having some of them sandblasted and painted.

kevin coppinger_4

what part....

of the country are you in??? Is there someone in find a contractor/professional who could assist in updating your system? don't lose the rads..they are works of art! kpc

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Bob W._3

robyne wrote: "So does that mean anyone know someone great in the baltimore area?" Did you guys miss this? Robyne, call Frank Wilsey at his new business, All Steamed Up, Inc., in Baltimore. Great hardly describes him; he lives and breathes this stuff. He does a lot of steam but I assume he still does Hot Water or will send you to the best.

My brother and his family live on Edgevale. Need to get out there to see him.

Bob Winzenburg
North Mankato, MN

Chuckles_4

Hot water heat is closed-cycle, so little new oxygen is introduced and it's not like your water supply pipes. If indeed there is any crud in the radiators, it can be cleaned (see Rhomar cleaning products). I've never heard of new boilers requiring new radiators, it seems like these guys are seeing an opportunity to make extra money. If you tell a contractor you want to replace the radiators, it's not their job to tell you not to send extra money their way.

Don't assume there is lead paint before you have tested it. And if there is, it just needs to be painted over.

Mike T., Swampeast MO

Robyne:

Investigate FULLY before opening those old fireplaces. Many such fireplaces were originally designed for coal-fueled cast iron stove inserts. The fireboxes will be too small for wood burning. The flues will be unlined and utterly unsafe for burning wood (except maybe once a year on Christmas Eve). Open fireplaces that use room air for combustion are continual energy wasters--whether or not the fire is burning. The cost of making those fireplaces work properly and safely can be mind-boggling.

Robyne

thanks

Thank you all for all the info. I am thrilled that my instincts (to keep the radiators) was well founded and that I did get swayed be contractors who clearly have $$ in their eyes. This is a fantastic site (wish there was one like this for everything else I must do to renovate

Robyne

fireplaces

We actually have looked into this extensively. We will need to rebuild one chimney due to the fact that so many different fuels have been used to heat the house (wood, coal, oil and now natural gas). Worst case senario is that we can't get them to working order but they will just look really cool.

Mike T., Swampeast MO

Robyne,

May I most sincerely suggest that you first make room in your renovation budget for thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) on your radiators and a condensing/modulating boiler (Viessmann Vitodens is an exceptional choice)?

Both your comfort and your fuel efficiency will be nearly unparalleled.

Your old system with cast iron radiators was extravagently expensive, comfortable, clean and safe in its' day. The material cost was typically 15%-25% of the entire house and it took the most labor of any form of heat to install. It truly deserves TRVs and a condensing/modulating boiler!

p.s. Were this me, if budget did not allow both "revitalizing" the fireplaces and a truly apt heating system renovation, I'd opt to move the offensive rads, renovate the heating system and then use the fuel savings to make the fireplaces workable.

Bob W._4

We have a large 1910 home with coal burning inserts. Just put a gas insert (nice cast iron front - Quadrafire) in the living room fireplace. They just run the flex vent up the chimney; no need to line it. Having some space heat allows us to delay the date we turn on the big boiler.

Did you call Frank "Steamhead" Wilsey yet? He posts on this board a lot and calls Baltimore home, I believe.

Wayco Wayne_2

I love

cast iron radiators. They have such great thermal mass and are probably oversized if the original system was gravity fed. Use that feature of oversized "Heat Emitters" to save money by putting in a condensing boiler with a constant circulation circulator. I use the Grundfos ups 15-58 on it's lowest speed. It will save a ton of money and give you the best in comfort. In Europe they oversize their heat emmitters on purpose so they can run at lower water temps and get better efficiency. You have it already built in. If you can get Frank you will be taken good care of. WW

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